One of the oldest mid-size pickups on sale in the U.S. right now, the increasingly popular Tacoma leaves much to be desired in a certain aspect. As the headline implies, the extended cab has been rated marginal by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test, which is performed at 40 miles per hour (64 kph).
Analyzing the footage, it’s clear as day the 2022 model in the first clip fails to protect the front passenger from injuries. On the one hand, the door frame and the dashboard intruded into the occupant survival space, resulting in a high risk of injury to the right leg and moderate injuries to the left leg.
The nonprofit organization highlights that both the frontal and side curtain airbags performed reasonably well. However, the dummy’s head struck the grab handle on the A-pillar on the right side of the windshield. This isn’t the first time the Tacoma didn’t live up to the nonprofit’s expectations.
Play the second video attached below, and you’ll notice that vehicles produced before October 2021 fare much worse in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test. Rated poor instead of marginal, the 2021 model year Toyota Tacoma extended cab is prone to puncturing the fuel tank with the rear leaf springs, resulting in a high risk of fire following the crash.
Turning out attention back to the 2022 model, the mid-size pickup has earned good ratings in all other crashworthiness evaluations (the driver-side small overlap, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint evaluations). As for front crash prevention, the Tacoma has earned a superior accolade despite not being tested for pedestrian detection.
Last, but certainly not least, the halogen lights couldn’t muster anything more than a marginal whereas the LED lights on higher grades are good.
After modifications addressed a fuel-leak problem identified in an earlier test, Toyota Tacoma extended cab models built after October earn a marginal rating in the passenger-side small overlap crash test.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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